come see me!

I will be running an awesome booth two times in January, please come and check out my work and meet me if you are in the area!

*January 4th at the Santa Barbara Bridal Expo

and

*January 11th on the Queen Mary in Long Beach


Hope everyone is having a beauuuutiful December! My fake Christmas eve and Christmas day is this weekend, so excited :D

<33annajoy

food for thought

hello dear readers!!

i am working away on some beautiful shoots and catching up (just so you know, and if you happened to wonder). but I was thinking to myself today about something. do you (yes you) ever say to yourself, 'if I could just get this done or out of the way, THEN I could do this or that, or my day would be so great, etc etc etc' ? well I do. but that is a dangerous mentality- i've come to realize. when you are always waiting for something to be done, or some thing to arrive, or 'once i just get this debt paid off then i'll finally be able to' or 'when i have this or that relationship i will be able to do this'... or 'when i have a house instead of an apartment i will be able to'.... or 'once i can just retire i will'.... we miss SO much in the meantime. i've noticed that in the waiting God does His most powerful work. i mean who doesn't think qualities of character like patience, endurance, hope, are admirable and desirable? but funny thing is they have to be earned- they don't often just come about. when your character is tested and tried in difficult times, these things are built into your heart. think of different plants, flowers and food- some things don't produce the fragrance or nutrients intended until they are ground, or crushed or smushed. i think that makes sense for us humans too. so when you look at your to-do list this Christmas season, don't think of all the things you can't do because of it. try to redirect for a moment, and realize that maybe this is exactly what you are meant to do today. i know from experience and from the word of God that in Him is the fullness of life. so this is a reminder mostly to myself- but hopefully you readers can glean something from my mistakes and discoveries. this takes disciplining your heart and mind, but the rewards are joy and peace. december 11th 2008 only comes once in your whole life- let your heart be settled and enjoy the lot before you, and don't always be striving for 'tomorrow', or whatever tomorrow holds for you.

our hearts should be a little less like this...




and feel a little more like this...





'...because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us,...' romans 5:3-5

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - john 10:10

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-mattthew 11:28-30

"You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in your presence," psalm 16:11


: )


<33annajoy

sarah + paul sample album

here are are a few favorite spreads from a sample album i made for 09 from sarah + paul's wedding. i just received this and another sample album in the mail on monday; and let me tell you- kiss does amazing work!

if you are interested, their ceremony took place at the beautiful hotel vintage and their reception was held at the awesome ace hotel in portland, OR.

















<3annajoy

beautiful reminder

this morning i got an e-mail from the lovely mother of one of my wonderful brides this year- kate (and sean). suzette wrote me with a few quotes that she thought i would appreciate (how sweet!):

"Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us, and see the beauty in ordinary things." Thomas Merton

"Behold the miracle of the season." Shakespeare


these quotes reminded me of where my inspiration comes from, and so stirred up a few gems in my memory:


the splendor that is all around us...

the earth is the Lord's and everything in it (psalm 24, 1 chronicles 29:11)
all creation sings His praise (psalm 148)
we are His workmanship, His masterpiece (psalm 139, ephesians 2)


beauty in the ordinary things...

we have this Treasure in jars of clay (2 corinthians 4:7)


the miracle of the season:

He was born to die and remove what stood opposed to us,
triumphing over all powers at the cross (colossians 2:13-15)
He was born to die to rip the veil of separation in two so we could forever
approach with boldness the throne of grace (luke 23:44-46, hebrews 10:20)



More photo goodness to come soon! but i can't very well show you my photos without showing you my heart that burns behind them- thanks for reading! hope everyone is having a fantastic December, woohooooo!

<33annajoy